BREAKING: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) To Sponsor DADT Repeal Bill

Conservative gay writer Jamie Kerchick reveals in today's NY Daily News that Sen. Joe Lieberman will be the chief Senate sponsor of a DADT repeal bill. It appears that Lieberman will submit the bill sometime next week.

The reasons why Lieberman, who was asked by the White House and gay rights groups to sponsor the legislation, would choose this battle are not hard to divine. Indeed, they strike at the heart of the political tradition of which he is the lonely standard-bearer: Social progressivism married with foreign policy hawkishness. In an exclusive interview with the Daily News, Lieberman told me that his commitment to repealing DADT is twofold. First, allowing gays to serve openly fulfills the bedrock American promise of providing citizens with "an equal opportunity to do whatever job their talents and sense of purpose and motivations lead them to want to do - including military service." Second, and no less important for a lawmaker whose commitment to national security the Pentagon can't doubt, is that "When you artificially limit the pool of people who can enlist then you are diminishing military effectiveness." Lieberman disputes the claim that allowing gay people to serve openly would cause havoc within the ranks. Indeed, to argue that belittles the maturity of our soldiers.

Servicemembers United reacts via press release:

"This is yet another historic step for the movement to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law and a welcomed moment for the tens of thousands of men and women who continue to be impacted by this unnecessary and outdated law," said Alexander Nicholson, a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the current Executive Director of Servicemembers United. "We are exceedingly proud of the courage and leadership that Senator Lieberman is showing, and we strongly urge the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress to proactively support Senator Lieberman's forthcoming bill."